LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is officially headed to Atlanta — and he’s doing it in style.
The Dodgers superstar was named the National League’s starting designated hitter for the 2025 All-Star Game after finishing Phase 1 of fan voting with a league-best 3,967,668 votes. It’s the fifth straight All-Star selection for Ohtani, and his second time leading his league in voting totals. While Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already confirmed Ohtani won’t pitch in the Midsummer Classic, he’ll be front and center in the batting order come July 15 at Truist Park.
“The fans love him. He’s the best player,” Roberts said earlier this week. “It’s going to be exciting for the fans to watch him in Atlanta for the All-Star Game.”
Ohtani joins David Ortiz as the only players in MLB history to start five All-Star Games at designated hitter. And if his first half in Dodger blue is any indication, fans are in for a show. He leads the National League in home runs (28), runs scored (80), OPS (1.025), and OPS+ (183), while simultaneously ramping up on the mound after returning from elbow surgery. He’s scheduled to make his third start as a pitcher this Saturday in Kansas City.
Dodgers Dominate the Ballot
But Ohtani won’t be the only Dodger making the trip. The entire Los Angeles starting lineup advanced to Phase 2 of All-Star voting, with several players looking like strong bets to join Ohtani in the NL’s starting nine.
Catcher Will Smith, one of the most consistent bats behind the plate in baseball, received over 3.4 million votes — more than any NL player not named Ohtani. He enters Phase 2 with a .330 average and .425 on-base percentage, tops among NL catchers. His closest competitor, Cubs veteran Carson Kelly, trails by more than two million votes but will get a fresh start when voting resets on Monday.
Freddie Freeman, also a top-5 vote-getter, continues to show why he’s one of the most respected hitters in the game. Despite a cold stretch, he’s slashing .310/.382/.504 and remains on pace for his seventh straight All-Star appearance. His main challenger is Pete Alonso of the Mets, who is having a power-heavy year, but Freeman’s fan base came out strong in Phase 1.
Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and Tommy Edman also advanced as finalists at their respective positions — third base, shortstop, and second base. Muncy’s midseason surge, powered in part by his now-trademark glasses, has lifted his OPS to .829, along with 12 homers since April 30. Betts, meanwhile, may not be posting his usual offensive fireworks, but his switch to shortstop at age 32 has impressed both fans and analysts. He ranks top-5 in defensive metrics at the position.
For Edman, the All-Star stage would be a career first. He’s contributed both at second base and in center field for the Dodgers, showing the type of flexibility that makes him invaluable.
Outfield Fireworks: Hernández and Pages Make Final Six
In the crowded NL outfield race, Dodgers sluggers Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages both made the final cut. Hernández finished second overall among outfielders, and Pages wasn’t far behind, ranking fifth. Pages has built an impressive case: 16 homers, 54 RBIs, and an OPS that’s jumped 135 points from his rookie campaign. The 23-year-old is turning heads across the league with his breakout year, and a strong Phase 2 showing could land him a starting spot. Of course, we at DodgersBeat having been banging the Pages drum for a couple of weeks now, and you didn’t let us down, Dodger fans. Even if he doesn’t make the cut in the final vote (he’s probably a longshot for that), to be a finalist will show the young Pages how dearly his services have been valued by the LA fanbase.
Phase 2 of voting opens Monday at 9 a.m. PT and runs through Wednesday. Fans can vote once per day at MLB.com/vote or on the MLB and Ballpark apps. While Ohtani has already locked in his place in the lineup, all other starters — including Smith, Freeman, and the rest of L.A.’s hopefuls — will be determined during this final round.
A New Era of Dodger Stardom
Ohtani’s All-Star nod adds another chapter to a historic season for the Dodgers, who are not only chasing another division title but also celebrating the return of two-way greatness in real time. Even without pitching in the All-Star Game, Ohtani’s presence in the batter’s box — now as an NL star — adds a spotlight few players can generate.
If the votes hold, Dodger fans could see as many as eight starters wearing the “Dodgers” script on their jerseys in Atlanta. It’s a testament to L.A.’s star-studded roster and the passion of their fanbase, which continues to show up — in the stands and at the ballot box.
Keep voting, Dodgers fans. Your team is on the verge of turning the All-Star Game into a Dodger-blue takeover.
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